Peony, 2020.

Acrylic on Canvas, 2020.

Description: A closeup of a pink and white peony on an iridescent gold background, acrylic on rough canvas.

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In February 2026, I finally began taking minhwa classes in a distant neighborhood in Queens, NY. To get there, I had to trek to my father’s house from Brooklyn, and he drove me to a class that he had been attending on Wednesday nights.

Three weeks after I began taking minhwa classes, the world shut down due to the pandemic.

I sheltered in place with my partner in Brooklyn while we waited for more information. My parents remained in Queens, and the classes, which were taught in-person by an elder, did not resume classes for a long time. I practiced what little I had learned with the acrylic paints I had available. I applied minhwa techniques, such as thin layers of multiple strong colors and a bold outline, over a gold background. I painted this peony on Youtube Live to alleviate the fear we all felt, and invited my friends to “hang out with me” virtually while I painted.